U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services is publishing policy guidance in the USCIS Policy Manual on eligibility, filing, and adjudication requirements addressing Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) self-petitions to update practices and align USCIS policies with recent court decisions.
USCIS is updating interpretation of the requirement for shared residence to occur during the qualifying spousal or parent-child relationship. Instead, the self-petitioner must demonstrate that they are residing or have resided with the abuser at any time in the past.
USCIS LINK: https://www.uscis.gov/newsroom/alerts/uscis-updates-policy-guidance-on-vawa-self-petitions
POLICY ALERT: https://www.uscis.gov/sites/default/files/document/policy-manual-updates/20220210-VAWA.pdf